Fired for speaking out
Ryan, a Harvard-trained lawyer from a nontraditional background, was fired from one of a prestigious law firm after publicly criticizing a potential surveillance partnership between the Trump administration and Palantir. Despite the firm once showcasing his personal story to promote diversity, he was told to stop speaking out and, after refusing, was escorted out of the building by security. He argues that the incident highlights how “Big Law” often values silence and neutrality over dissent, prioritizing access to power over confronting authoritarianism.